Mardy Murie was born in 1902 in Seattle and spent her youth in Fairbanks, Alaska. She met her husband Olaus Murie in 1921 and they married in 1924. Together, Mardy and Olaus dedicated their lives to conservation work. They were founding members of The Wilderness Society and advocated tirelessly for the protection of wilderness areas. After Olaus' death in 1963, Mardy continued their conservation efforts and played a key role in the passage of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act in 1980, which protected over 100 million acres of Alaskan land. Mardy was recognized as the "Grandmother of the American Conservation Movement" for her lifelong commitment to environmental causes.